Summary
Singapore holds the world’s most powerful passport 2026 — for the second consecutive year — with visa-free access to 192 destinations out of 227 tracked by the Henley Passport Index — Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates share second place with access to 188 destinations; Sweden is third with 187; eleven European countries tie for fourth with 186 destinations each; the results highlight Asia’s growing influence in global mobility, with Asian passports occupying the top positions
New Zealand and Australia both rank 7th on the Henley Passport Index 2026 (July update) — sharing the position with Canada, Malaysia, Czechia, Latvia, Slovakia and Slovenia, each with access to 183 destinations — both passports provide outstanding global mobility, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the vast majority of the world’s destinations; both countries benefit from strong diplomatic relationships, membership in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance and long-standing bilateral visa agreements with most major economies
The gap between the world’s most and least powerful passports has widened significantly over 20 years — Singapore passport holders can access 192 destinations; Afghanistan passport holders can access just 24; the resulting 168-destination gap is dramatically wider than the 118-destination gap between the top and bottom passports in 2006; the UAE is the biggest climber of the past two decades, gaining 60 places in the rankings. The most powerful passport 2026 showcases the trends in global mobility.
What is the Henley Passport Index?
The Henley Passport Index is the original and most widely cited global ranking of passports by travel access. Published by Henley & Partners and now in its 20th year, it ranks 199 passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without obtaining a visa before departure — out of 227 tracked destinations.
The index uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) — the global airline industry body that maintains the world’s most comprehensive database of travel document requirements. The index is updated monthly as visa agreements between countries change.
What counts as “visa-free”: The Henley Index counts destinations where no visa is required before departure — including some visas on arrival, visitor permits and electronic travel authorisations, provided they do not require prior government approval. Destinations where a visa or approved e-Visa must be obtained before departure are not counted as visa-free.
The 2026 Henley Passport Index rankings
As of July 2026:
| Rank | Country/Countries | Visa-free destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Singapore | 192 |
| 2nd | Japan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates | 188 |
| 3rd | Sweden | 187 |
| 4th | Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain | 186 |
| 5th | Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Switzerland | 185 |
| 6th | Hungary, Poland, United Kingdom | 184 |
| 7th | Australia, Canada, Czechia, Latvia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Slovakia, Slovenia | 183 |
| 10th | United States, Iceland | 180 |
Rankings and scores update monthly as visa agreements change — check henleyglobal.com for the latest.
Singapore — world’s most powerful passport
Singapore has held the top position on the Henley Passport Index for the second consecutive year. Its passport holders can access 192 out of 227 destinations without obtaining a visa before departure.
Singapore’s rise to the top of global passport rankings reflects decades of active diplomatic engagement and visa liberalisation — building bilateral agreements with countries across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Singapore’s passport holders have gained access to 19 additional destinations since 2016 alone.
Asia — passport rankings at a glance
Asia presents the most striking contrast of any region in the 2026 index — the world’s strongest passport (Singapore, 1st) and the world’s weakest (Afghanistan, 101st) both sit within Asia.
Japan has long held one of the world’s most powerful passports — its citizens benefit from visa-free or visa-on-arrival access across virtually all major travel destinations.
South Korea has risen steadily, reflecting its expanding network of bilateral visa agreements and the growing global recognition of South Korean economic and cultural influence.
The United Arab Emirates is the most dramatic climber of the past two decades — rising 60 places since 2006, gaining access to 149 more destinations in that time, driven by sustained diplomatic engagement and visa liberalisation agreements.
| Passport | Rank (July 2026) | Visa-free destinations |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 1st | 192 |
| Japan | 2nd | 188 |
| South Korea | 2nd | 188 |
| United Arab Emirates | 2nd | 188 |
| Malaysia | 7th | 183 |
| Hong Kong | 14th | 168 |
| Brunei | 19th | 163 |
| Timor-Leste | 52nd | ~90 |
| Thailand | 63rd | 77 |
| Indonesia | 68th | 70 |
| Philippines | 72nd | 65 |
| India | 81st | 55 |
| Vietnam | 87th | ~49 |
| Cambodia | 88th | ~48 |
| Laos | 89th | ~47 |
| Myanmar | 91st | ~46 |
| Bangladesh | 95th | 37 |
| Nepal | 97th | 35 |
| Pakistan | 98th | 31 |
| Afghanistan | 101st (last) | 24 |
The Southeast Asian split: Within Southeast Asia, the gap between the strongest (Singapore, 192) and weakest (Myanmar, ~46) passport is 146 destinations. Malaysia’s rise to 7th globally is one of the index’s most notable developments — the Malaysian passport now outranks the UK, Canada and the US.
South Asia: India (81st, 55 destinations) is the strongest South Asian passport — ahead of Bangladesh (95th), Nepal (97th), Pakistan (98th) and Afghanistan (101st).
The Gulf: The UAE’s rise from 65th in 2006 to 2nd in 2026 is the largest sustained climb in the index’s 20-year history — gaining 60 places and 149 additional destinations through sustained visa liberalisation agreements.
New Zealand — 7th in the world (shared)
New Zealand passport holders have access to 183 destinations visa-free or visa-on-arrival — ranking 7th globally alongside Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Czechia, Latvia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Key destinations New Zealand passport holders can access without a pre-departure visa include:
- Schengen Area (29 European countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands) — up to 90 days visa-free per 180-day period; ETIAS pre-registration required from 2027
- United Kingdom — up to 6 months visa-free; UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) required from February 2026
- United States — up to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA required before travel)
- Canada — up to 6 months visa-free; eTA required before travel
- Australia — New Zealand citizens have the right to live and work in Australia indefinitely under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement
- Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia — visa-free short stays
Australia — 7th in the world (shared)
Australian passport holders have access to 183 destinations visa-free or visa-on-arrival — ranking 7th globally alongside New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia, Czechia, Latvia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Key destinations Australian passport holders can access without a pre-departure visa include:
- Schengen Area (29 European countries) — up to 90 days visa-free per 180-day period; EES registration at border from April 2026; ETIAS required from 2027
- United Kingdom — up to 6 months visa-free; UK ETA required from February 2026
- United States — up to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA required)
- Canada — up to 6 months visa-free; eTA required
- New Zealand — Australians can live and work in New Zealand under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement; Subclass 444 visa on arrival
- Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia — visa-free short stays
Europe dominates the upper tier
The 2026 results confirm Europe’s continued dominance in passport power — with 29 European countries in the top 10 of the index.
Fourth place (186 destinations): Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway and Spain — eleven countries tied at the same score, reflecting the deep integration and shared diplomatic networks of European nations.
Fifth place (185 destinations): Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal and Switzerland.
European passport strength reflects decades of regional integration through the EU and Schengen frameworks, as well as the EU’s extensive network of bilateral visa liberalisation agreements with countries across Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond.
The United States — 10th
The United States passport ranks 10th in 2026 with access to 180 destinations — having returned to the top 10 after briefly dropping out in late 2025. The US passport score improved by one destination in the June 2026 update, rising from 179 to 180.
The weakest passports in 2026
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the least powerful passports in 2026 offer access to as few as 24 destinations.
| Rank (bottom) | Country | Visa-free destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 101st (last) | Afghanistan | 24 |
| 100th | Syria | 26 |
| 97th | Iraq | 29 |
The 168-destination gap between Singapore (192) and Afghanistan (24) is starkly wider than the 118-destination gap between the top and bottom passports in 2006 — a sign that global mobility inequality has increased significantly over the past two decades despite the overall expansion of travel.
Christian H. Kaelin, chairman at Henley & Partners and creator of the Henley Passport Index: “Over the past 20 years, global mobility has expanded significantly, but the benefits have been distributed unevenly. Today, passport privilege plays a decisive role in shaping people’s life opportunities.”
Two passport indexes — Henley vs Arton
The Henley Passport Index is the most widely cited ranking — but it is not the only one. Arton Capital’s Global Passport Power Rank uses a different methodology (counting both visa-free and visa-on-arrival access in a single “mobility score”) and produces different results.
| Henley Passport Index | Arton Global Passport Power Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Data source | IATA | Individual government portals (real-time) |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Real-time |
| Top passport (2026) | Singapore (192) | UAE (182) |
| Methodology | Visa-free (excl. pre-approved eVisas) | Visa-free + visa on arrival combined |
Both indexes are legitimate tools for understanding travel document strength — the differences in rankings reflect methodological choices, not errors. The Henley Index is the older and more internationally recognised benchmark.
What makes a passport powerful?
A passport’s ranking is determined by the number of bilateral visa agreements a country has negotiated with other nations — not by the country’s wealth or size alone. Key factors:
Diplomatic relationships: Countries with extensive, positive diplomatic networks — and no significant geopolitical tensions — can negotiate more visa-free agreements.
Reciprocity: Most visa agreements are reciprocal — Country A gives visa-free access to Country B’s citizens in exchange for the same. The EU’s collective bargaining power has produced extensive mutual visa-free arrangements with countries worldwide.
Security and risk assessment: Countries with low rates of overstaying or asylum applications from their citizens find it easier to negotiate visa-free access with destination nations.
Economic ties: Strong trade, investment and tourism flows between two countries make visa liberalisation politically easier to justify.
What the ranking means for AU/NZ travellers
For Australians and New Zealanders, holding a top-10 global passport means:
- Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the vast majority of popular travel destinations
- No need to obtain a Schengen visa for European travel (up to 90 days — ETIAS pre-registration required from 2027)
- Access to the US Visa Waiver Program (ESTA required before travel)
- Visa-free entry to most of Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean
The main destinations requiring advance visa applications for Australian and New Zealand passport holders include China (eVisa available), India (eVisa available), Russia, and some countries in Africa and the Middle East.
Related guides
- What is the Schengen Area? →
- France travel guide 2026 →
- Italy travel guide 2026 →
- Best travel insurance Australia 2026 →
- Best travel money cards in Australia 2026 →
Passport rankings update monthly — always verify the current ranking at henleyglobal.com. Entry requirements, ETAs and eVisa requirements change — verify at Smartraveller (smartraveller.gov.au) or Safetravel (safetravel.govt.nz) before travel. Last updated September 2026.
Sources: Euronews — 2026 most powerful passports in the world ranking (euronews.com, July 24, 2026) | Gulf News — World’s strongest passports in 2026 revealed (gulfnews.com, 2026) | Visual Capitalist — The World’s Strongest and Weakest Passports in 2026 (visualcapitalist.com, August 5, 2026) | visasnews.com — Which passports are the most powerful in 2026? (July 3, 2026) | iasservices.org.uk — Most Powerful Passport in the World 2026 (2 weeks ago) | Henley & Partners — Henley Passport Index (henleyglobal.com)
